And my poems have gone gaunt

Men of learning mired are in envy, Those of influence, proud and haughty, As rest are ignorant, My poems have gone gaunt, Untold, unread, old and weary. ___________________ Translation | | poet, poem Poet’s Note: Bhartruhari was a poet king in central India in the seventh century CE, who when disillusioned in love renounced kingdom and became an ascetic. Neeti Shatakam, a compilation of hundred verses on moral values was written by him along with Shringar Shatakam on romance, and Vairagya Shatakam on dispassion and renunciation. This verse is taken from Neeti Shatakam. It seems, even in these olden times, poetry suffered from the same fate as now--getting old unread. Boddharah matsara-grastah prabhavah smaya-dushitah | Abodha-upahatah cha anye jirnam ange subhashitam || 2 || Meter: Anushtup